Computing device



July 7, 1942. A. E. FIALA COMPUTING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1939 INVENTOR.

V/z M ATTORNEY.

Patented July 7, 1942 UNITED "STATES PATENT -FFICE 2,289,252 COMPUTING DEVICE Albert E. Fiala, Chicago, n1. Application March 9, 1939, Serial No. 260,809 l 2 Claims. (01. 23549.5)

The invention relates to computing devices wherein a plurality of rotary indicators are actuated to compute certain data.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for causing rotation of all the rotary indicators in unison, and relative motion between someindicators and others.

A further object constitutes the provision of means extraneous to the device for actuating the rotary indicators.

Another object constitutes the provision of means co-axial with the rotary indicators for driving the indicators in unison, and eccentric means for actuating certain indicators to produce relative motion with respect to others of said indicators.

It is also an object of the invention to provide certain features of construction and arrangement of parts tending to enhance the efflciency and utility of a device of the character specified.

It is a still further object to provide a series of endless belts constituting indicators, there being means for actuating said belts in unison and relatively to each other respectively.

With these and other equally important objects in view, which will become apparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the means described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part thereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the device constructed 7 in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a side view of a modification. Referring to the several views in the drawing,

It designates a base to which are secured by screen H bearing walls 12, having an aperture for the reception of a hollow shaft l3.

Wheels l4 and I5, constituting rotary indicators, are mounted in spaced relation on said shaft and in press fit relation therewith so that, upon rotation of the shaft, wheels I4 and I5 will rotate therewith.

The periphery l6 of each wheel is surrounded by a removable band H on which indicia, graduations or other marks I8 are provided, necessary or useful for the computations to be made.

Intermediate to the wheels 14 and i5 is a wheel 19, loosely mounted on the shaft, but also provided with a band I! having graduations 18.

The hub 20 of the wheel i9 is counter-sunk,

as at 2|, to receive therein an internal gear 22, with which meshes a pinion 23 on a solid shaft 24, mounted eccentrically in the hollow shaft and supported in end, plates 25, forming closures for i9 is caused to rotate, as it is coupled with the shaft by the engagement of the teeth of gears 22 and 23.

When it is desired to cause relative motion between thewheel l9 and the wheels l4 and i5, then the knob 28 is turned while the handle wheel 21 is held against rotation, whereupon the wheel l9 alone turns.

It is, of course, understood that any one of the wheels may be arranged to have rotation independent of the others, nor is the number of wheels limited, but may be increased to any numv ber desired.

The particular graduation employed may vary in accordance with special requirements, and the graduations are shown merely by way of example.

To this end, the bands 41 may be replaced by other bands having the desired graduations. Where considerable space is required for the accommodation of graduations, the modification shown in Fig. 5 may be used.

Here a base 20 is employed, from which upstand spaced pairs of bearing walls 3! and 32.

A shaft 33 carries a plurality of wheels 34, around which are trained belts 35 which encompass wheels 36. The construction of the wheels 36 is identical with those in the first described embodiment, there being a hand wheel 31 and a knob 38, for respectively rotating the wheels in unison, and one ofthe wheels independently of the others.

While the drawing shows preferred embodiments of the invention, numerous changes and alterations may be made without departing from I claim:

1. A device of the character described comdicators fast on said shaft for rotation therewith,

another indicator rotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a gear, and a solid shaft extending through the closed ends of said tubular 10 shaft in eccentric relation thereto and provided with a pinion adapted to engage said gear through the aperture of said tubular shaft;

2. In a computing device, a hollow shaft having an aperture in the cylindrical surface thereof and closed at the ends. a plurality of drums fast on said shaft, a drum having an internal gear loose on said shaft, and a second shaft having a pinion eccentrically arranged in said hollow shaft andiournaled in the closed ends of said hollow shaft, the pinion extending through the aperture in the hollow shaft to mesh with the internal gear of said loose drum to positively drive the latter.

ALBERT E. FIALA. 

